Rebekah Denn at The Seattle Times has details on the new delivery program, giving it a whirl with favorites from La Spiga and Samurai Noodle. Dubbed “Seattle Spotlight,” Denn notes that the program offers “unheard-of access to restaurant meals and ingredients” in what amounts to an “interesting blend of takeout and home cooking.”

Not in the mood to cook?

For $13.95, you can order a 32-ounce container of New England Clam Chowder from Pike Place Chowder. Or, for $4.50, you can buy a Lumberjack Breakfast Sandwich from Molly’s. Other partner restaurants in the program include Daniel’s Broiler; Eltana Wood-Fired Bagels; and Macrina Bakery.

The Amazon Fresh lime green delivery trucks have become commonplace on Seattle streets, since the service started in August 2007. And, over time, the company has expanded the product offerings it features.

But restaurant meals mark an entirely new step, perhaps putting it on a collision course with other services like GrubHub, a Chicago startup that reeled in $50 million in venture funding last year. (It typically partners with restaurants that are already providing takeout, simply trying to streamline the process via online ordering).

Lobster bisque from Daniel’s Broiler

Of course, Amazon has continued to operate its Amazon Fresh service only in Seattle, largely as a delivery service of groceries. With the Seattle Spotlight, the company is expanding into ready-to-eat meals and easy-to-prepare meals under the direction of Jonathan Hunt, formerly of Boom Noodle and Lowell-Hunt Catering. The service works in conjunction with Amazon Fresh whereby orders from restaurant partners are picked up twice per day, and added into the existing grocery orders.

Of course, that means not every dining option makes sense. But, for those looking for something quick to prepare, it does offer an alternative on those evenings when you don’t want to cook or head to a local restaurant.

John Cook is GeekWire's co-founder and publisher, a veteran reporter and the longest-serving journalist on the Pacific Northwest tech beat. Follow him @johnhcook and email john@geekwire.com.